Chapter Nine : Fine
When Sabo opened his hazel eyes, the first thing he noticed was Luffy who had his arms wrapped around him. The second thing he noticed was the sun rays slipping in the thin walls of the hut. It was the right time for him to wake up for Sabo. Although it was hard to get away from Luffy's grasp, he managed. His younger brother was just clingy like that. He suppressed a yawn before sitting up. He rubbed his eyes getting rid of any gound in it.
Sabo watched as Luffy immediately turned to cling to Ace. Ace, still asleep, return back the hug. Sabo smiled, enjoying the view of his two brothers. He know Ace did not get enough sleep last night. Maybe, Luffy's hug can took away his worries even for the meantime.
Sabo stood up with care, not wanting to wake up his brothers. He was always the first one up. Luffy and Ace are always the heavy sleepers. He stretched his arms and get out of the room. On his way downstairs, he did not hear any sounds coming from the bandits. They were not the type to be awake early.
In the lounge, a sleeping Garp was seen snoring loudly. The old man still had a glass in his hand. Sabo gulped and quickened his pace. Garp was already scary enough without being intoxicated. He was scared of the thought dealing with the old man with a hungover. They need to get out of the place as soon as possible if they still want to live.
Sabo went outside. He closed his eyes as the fresh breeze greeted him. A chorus of bird chirping was heard. Everything felt perfect. He closed his eyes andlet his body be lost for the moment. Because it was something he never really experienced on High Town. The town he was born was intoxicating at times. Sabo always enjoyed the peacefulness he has on the mountains.
"You're up early."
Sabo opened his eyes, blinking. He gave him a toothy grin. "Morning, Roger-san. That's suppose to be my question. Aren't you hungover?"
"That wasn't enough to hold me back!" Roger laughed. "You should've seen the parties in Oro Jackson! They're much better!"
"Oro Jackson?" Sabo echoed then it clicked to him. "It's your ship isn't it?"
"Yeah. She's the best one out there. I wish I could have taken you three there. You'll enjoy the parties aboard!"
"We'd like to." Sabo agreed.
"I've wanted to ask you," Roger uttered. "How did you and Ace met?"
Sabo looked at him before answering. Eyes were narrowed, unsure of what to answer.
"Can I trust you?"
Roger stared at him. Softness was obvious in his features. He smiled lightly, not offended by his question.
"Are you asking me or yourself?"
His hazel eyes widened and mouth went ajar. He blinked a few times as he continue to stare at Roged.
He cannot just keep lying on himself. He liked Roger. He was nothing like the stories he had heard. The man was nice and has a friendly personality. There was something that drew people around him. Even though it has just been days since they met him, Sabo cannot understand why he felt so comfortable around him.
Sabo laughed. He was stupid for worrying all this time. He finally had answer unlike Ace. Because now, he was willing to trust Roger.
"We met on Gray Terminal. You know? The trash heap?" Sabo started.
Roger nodded.
"Ace and I easily became friends five years ago. He's the only kid around my age that's why we became partners. We stole treasure and keep it to buy a ship once we set sail."
"What about Luffy?"
"We just met Luffy. The old man brought him and he pestered Ace for months." Sabo chuckled, feeling nostalgic. "Long story short, we exchange cups of sake and became brothers."
"Luffy mentioned that one. Brothers by bond, huh?"
"Yeah because..." Sabo sighed, feeling heaviness in his chest as he hated the next words. "I was born noble."
"You do look like one." Roger mused.
"And I still dressed like one." Sabo said, clenching his fists. "I ran away... My parents never cared about me. They only care about the status and wealth... But then I met Ace and Luffy. For me, they are my family. They treated me much better than my blood one."
"I've had heard of a proverb somewhere in the South Blue that perfectly describes you three." Roger grinned.
"What is it?" Sabo piqued as he stared at him with wide eyes.
"Blood doesn't make you family. Love does."
As the two sat on the grass, a comfortable silence fell upon them. Sabo kept thinking about what Roger said.
He never felt so happy when they exchanged that cup that day. Ace and Luffy are his only family. Their bond is his greatest treasure and nothing will ever changed that. He was not so lonely anymore when his brothers came crashing to his life.
"Thank you, Roger-san." Sabo said, bowing his head a little.
Roger snorted and laughed. "I didn't even do anything!"
"I feel better now." Sabo replied before sighing. "You do know that Ace still hates you, right?"
"He made it clear in the past days." Roger answered thoughtfully.
"Ace was acting like that because..."
"He heard bad things about me?" Roger finished, stroking his moustache.
Sabo nodded grimly. "Why is it? Why are they telling mean things about you? You're nothing like the stories!"
Roger heaved a long sigh. "The world is a cruel place, Sabo... But it doesn't matter now. Do you still believe those stories?"
"No." Sabo shook his head. "That teaches me a lesson to not believe anything that I only heard."
Roger chuckled. "That's the spirit!"
"I'm sure that one of these days, Ace will learn to like you." Sabo commented, fidgeting his feet.
"I hope so, too." Roger laughed again.
"Are you sure you're not hungover?"
"Maybe." Roger grinned making Sabo laughed.
Sabo finally understand why he felt so secure around him. Roger's smile and laugh, it was exactly the same as his younger brother. Luffy was also highly optimistic. He always see the bright side of situations and takes his problems with a smile and an upbeat nature. Just like Roger.
And with that, Sabo let out a satisfied sigh.
- - -
"Woah! Jiichan is here!" Luffy exclaimed as he looked over at his grandfather lying in the wooden floor, asleep.
Ace gulped and put his finger up. "Shh! Do you want to wake him up?"
Luffy immediately put his hands on his mouth. He cannot remember when or how did his grandfather arrived here. Not that it matters anymore. They have bigger problems on their hand, his mere presence.
But too bad for them, Garp opened his eyes making Luffy and Ace screeched immediately. They gulped and their heartbeats quickened. Slowly, they took a step backwards. Ace put Luffy on his back, trying to protect him from their lunatic grandfather. Garp sat up and glared at them.
They had learned to be fearful of Garp. Who in their right mind would not. The old man was derange, forcing them to what he dubbed as training. It was the reason why the brothers decided to build a fortress in the first place, to escape his grasp. But the one time they had come to visit Dadan, it was the day Garp decided to pay a visit.
"Hello, Ace, Luffy!" Garp greeted, laughing.
"What the hell old man! Don't scare us like that!" Ace barked, clenching his fists.
"Huh? Hey, where's Roger?"
Luffy had his eyes sparkling that moment. His grandfather came here because of Roger. It just proved that they really knew it each other.
"You're here because of Roger? You're really his friend!" Luffy gushed.
"Friend?" Garp snorted. "Listen up, a Marine and a pirate will never be friends!"
"Then why the hell are you drinking with him...?" Ace deadpanned while crossing his arms.
"You'll understand when you're older, brat!" Garp laughed.
Garp stood up and started stretching his limbs. He went outside the house. Ace and Luffy followed him.
"Oh hey Roger, squirt!" Garp greeted waving his hand.
Roger and Sabo was sitting in the grass. Luffy thought that they were probably talking about something. He grinned. It only meant that Sabo also started liking Roger.
"I'm no squirt..." Sabo complained, standing up.
"What was that?" Garp asked, voice threatening as he cracked his knuckles.
"N-Nothing!" Sabo stuttered, looking away from his gaze.
Garp just merely laughed again. "You three are lucky this time! It's not my vacation so I need to go back in the headquarters soon so there'll be no training!"
The trio shared a look before letting out collective sighs of relief. They were willing to do anything to escape their grandfather's so called training. Luffy has experienced it all his life but never had been fond of them. He cannot understand how can his grandfather hit him so badly when he was made of rubber. That proves that he was really strong.
"But next time, it'll be doubled." Garp gave a grin that sent shivers down their spine.
They dodged a bullet but a cannon will backfire at them soon. They shall enjoy their lives to the fullest before that happens.
"Already? Don't you wanna spar first?" Roger suggested.
"Would have love to!" Garp exclaimed. "But I prefer doing it when it's on my vacation so nothing will hold me back."
"Fair enough." Roger stated. "It'll probably take days!"
"Dadan, I know you're there!" Garp called out.
A series of loud noises were heard inside. The bandits screeched in terror as they tried hiding. Luffy thought that it was silly to see the bandits reacting like that.
"Continue taking care of this brats!" Garp ordered and then turned to his old rival. "While you're here, Roger. Try to train them to be strong marines!"
"Like that'll happen!" Roger laughed.
"Oh hell yeah! I wouldn't expect nothing else from my grandsons!"
Sabo processed what Garp has said for a moment. "You're letting a pirate— the best one out there— to train us to be Marines...?"
"Where's the logic in that!?" Ace mouthed angrily.
"No! We're gonna be pirates!" Luffy yelled in defiance as he put his hands up in the air.
"Marines!" Garp replied also yelling.
"Pirates!"
"Marines!"
"Pirates!"
"I already decided that you'll be Marines!"
"No." Both Sabo and Ace answered at the same time.
"Nope." Luffy said, popping the p.
In a swift move, Garp managed to get to his grandsons and hit them on the head. A huge bump immediately formed on their heads. The three started complaining but stopped when their grandfather glared at them, enough to make their mouth shut.
Roger mused. "That's gotta hurt."
"I'm leaving. Don't worry about Sengoku. I'll just say that you're an impostor already dealt with." Garp explained.
"Thanks!" Roger chirped.
"See ya!" Garp waved his hand.
- - -
Ace, together with his brothers and father, watched as the old man went his merry way. Ace groaned as he rubbed the area where Garp had hit him. Whenever he visited, there would always be a taste of his Fist of Love. Ace was used to it but it doesn't mean he liked it. With a heavy sigh, he let his hands brushed his hair.
"Oi, Dadan." Ace turned to the bandits inside. "We're leaving!"
"Eh? Already?" Luffy complained, pouting.
"Good riddance!" They heard Dadan yelled inside. The voices of ushering relief was next to it. They scrambled from the door frame and started doing their everyday routine.
"We've already spent a whole day here, Luffy." Ace explained in monotone.
"Ah, Roger! C'mon let's go!" Luffy invited, holding the hand of the man.
Sabo looked at Ace with narrowed eyes. Ace sighed and turn to walk away. He just cannot get rid of the man that easily. Luffy seemed to like him more than ever. And since it was Luffy, once he decided that someone is his friend, he will do anything to make it stay that way.
They started walking back to their hideout together with Roger. Ace and Sabo led the way while Luffy and Roger was talking in the back. The older brothers kept looking back into the younger one, still making sure that he would not cause any delay or problem.
"Your place's ugly. Why'd you keep living there?" Luffy asked, innocently.
Roger did not mind and just grinned. "Beggars can't be choosers."
"Why don't you stay with—?"
"Luffy." Sabo turned back, voice was scolding.
Luffy immediately put his two hands on his mouth, stopping on his tracks momentarily. He nodded his head at Sabo, understanding what he meant.
"It's fine, Luffy. My place's not that bad." Roger said to the boy.
They continue walking and Luffy changed the subject. Luffy asked him about different things and Roger answered him with the same enthusiasm. Ace was left on his own thoughts. Sabo tried talking to him but he did not answer. Ace was not in the mood.
Ace knew that Sabo did it for him because he was still not sure what to think of the man. He remembered days ago when his birth father has first appeared. His instincts told him to trust the man.
But Ace cannot just do it right away. He spend years gloating and hating the man. Old habits die hard if that was what they called it.
But for now, maybe having Roger around was fine.
- - -
A/N: I got mixed reactions about Roger's illness but that is to be expected... haha.Thank you for the follows, favorites and reviews! See you next update.